Playing Santa

New Zealand businesses are the unsung heroes of the charity sector: from the local panelbeater sponsoring a kids’ soccer team or a restaurant donating a raffle prize right through to many millions of dollars raised through corporate sponsorships such as BNZ and Plunket, ANZ and Daffodil Day etc.

Kiwis were ranked fourth in global generosity in the 2012 World Giving Index and it’s no surprise that Kiwi businesses reflect this trend.
But times are getting tougher and the charitable dollar is under increasing pressure. Wellington-based online accommodation site Kiwi Karma is looking to provide Kiwi businesses with the opportunity to continue to give back to the community but at no extra cost.

Kiwi Karma was set up last year by Wellington business woman Shelley Crestani who has clients in the charity sector along with husband Craig, who has experience in local tourism.
“Business travel doesn’t have to be a necessary evil, now it’s an opportunity to raise money for a good cause in a way that costs the business nothing extra” says Shelley. “It turns the chore of online booking into the chance to play Santa, who should I give my donation to this time?”

Like other travel sites, Kiwi Karma features over 3,100 properties at competitive rates. The difference is that there are no booking fees and 3% of the room rate goes to a charity of the guest’s choice, at no extra cost.

There are 20 charities involved with the site, but Kiwi Karma is working closely with the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand (FINZ) to extend the opportunity to more charities, especially the smaller charities with lower profiles and therefore lower fundraising income.

“Kiwi Karma are helping FINZ charities raise much needed funds which help make New Zealand a safer and more caring society. Combining good ethical business practice with philanthropy is the Kiwi Karma way and a great role model for all Kiwi businesses. We are proud to be associated with such a good corporate citizen.” Says James Austin, CEO of FINZ

Development Manager Dave Bellamy from Forest & Bird loves the concept, "Kiwi Karma is a New Zealand company with an innovative cause-related marketing model. Customers don't need to do anything additional to their normal buying practice. Simply by booking their accommodation through Kiwi Karma they not only are directly supporting our work to protect endangered native species.”
“Everybody wins” says Shelley. “The business gets the feel-good factor, but at no extra cost and the charity gets the fund-raising income with no extra time or resource.”


A report that gives a global view of giving trends is World Giving Index 2102 commissioned by the Charities Aid Foundation. World Giving Index Ranking by country was as follows:
1. Australia
2. Ireland
3. Canada
4. New Zealand
5. United States of America
6. Netherlands
7. Indonesia
8. United Kingdom
9. Paraguay
10. Denmark

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